Robert L. May was given an assignment by his employer, Montgomery Ward, to create a coloring book to give to kids at Christmas. They had been buying and giving away coloring books, but decided it was less expensive to pay Mr. May for his work. Or assign it and not pay him extra - I am not sure how that arrangement went. 

May’s daughter loved reindeers, so he decided to create a reindeer and treat it like a child. He had been bullied as a child, so he incorporated a bit of that into the original story of Rudolph – who might have been a Rollo or a Reginald before settling on a Rudolph - maybe a Valentino?  As he looked for inspiration, he glanced out of his Chicago highrise office window and watched the fog roll in from Lake Michigan. That was all he needed to have an 'Ah-ha' moment.

From there, the story of Rudolph wrote itself, but he ran into problems with the story when his bosses read it. They didn’t want to use the red nose since in 1939 that was synonymous with a drunk and derelict. Cute illustrations soon took care of that problem.

In 1948, there was a short cartoon created based on the book, but in 1949, May’s brother-in-law wrote a song about the reindeer.  Gene Autry recorded it, and it hit the number one spot on Billboard for 1949. It stayed as the second bestselling record in history until the 1980s.

The annual stop-motion movie based on the story first aired in 1964 during the Christmas season. It was based on the song and not the book, which changed the story a bit. See the original manuscript here. The original is quite different, but the premise stays the same.

This movie tells the story of Rudolph and an elf (not in the original) who are both outsiders and rejects. From there, they go off on an adventure that leads them to the Island of Misfit Toys, who are also rejects. The story is full of rejects.

In the end, Rudolph is the hero, and the story manages to keep the original premise that everyone is useful and has talents of their own if only given the right chance and opportunity to display them.

There have been many remakes of Rudolph over the years that includes a movie from 1998, but the original stop-motion film is the one that most of us adults remember from our childhood. Really do we need to CGI everything? This film is quaint and simple, and it reminds us that it’s a season of family and friends.  FYI - Burl Ives (remember him? Mr. Christmas himself?) was the voice of Sam the Snowman.

Here are some wonderful gift ideas for your family and friends that will be delivered by Christmas – maybe even by Rudolph himself:

Passion Flowers Canvas Print

Joanne Carey

Christmas Mini Note Cards Gift Tags Set of 6

ClaireMDesigns2

Rose Blush Poinsettias Digital Art Metal Ornament

Butterfly in the Attic 

Elegant Ruby Teardrop Earrings, Red Gold Crystal Handmade Jewelry

Victorian Style Treasures

Flower Fairy Siam Tulip Earrings India Pink Crystals

Magdalene Jewels

Vintage Red Truck Christmas Gift Tags – Set of 8

Adore by Nat 

Red Crystal And Silver Cone Earrings

The Singing Beader 

Handmade Lampwork Glass Bead Pairs, Red Pink Stripes Encased Shiny

Covergirl Beads 

Red Black Chunky Necklace, Magnesite Onyx Handmade Statement Jewelry

Shadow Dog Designs 

Venetian Glass Brilliant Red Necklace Statement Beaded Handmade

RivendellRocksSedona

Bloodwood, Exotic Wood Oval Earrings

ExoticWoodJewelryAnd 

8 Red Green Pillow Handmade Polymer Clay Beads Jewelry Making Supplies

Blue Morning Expressions 

Don’t see what you want here?

Here are some more places to shop handmade by these artists, and if nothing else, ask one of them to create something for you.

Countdown to Christmas 2022

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

More Places to Shop:

Favorite Christmas Movies - How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Favorite Christmas Movies - A Christmas Story 

Favorite Christmas Movies - Miracle on 34th Street

Check back for more gift ideas.

Happy gift giving, 

Julie